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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






2. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






3. Pertains to tone or tones.






4. A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece.






5. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






6. A short or brief sonata.






7. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






8. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






9. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






10. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






11. A group singing in unison.






12. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






13. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






14. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






15. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






16. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






17. Three note chords consisting of a root - third - and fifth.






18. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






19. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






20. A lighthearted piece - written in several movements - usually as background music for a social function.






21. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






22. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






23. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played very slow and serious.






24. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






25. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






26. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.






27. Repetition of a single tone.






28. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






29. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






30. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






31. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






32. A successive transposition and repetition of a phrase at different pitches.






33. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






34. A separate section of a larger composition.






35. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






36. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






37. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






38. The principal note of a triad.






39. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






40. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






41. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






42. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






43. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






44. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






45. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






46. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






47. Music that is easy to listen to and understand.






48. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






49. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






50. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.







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